ABC Bullion
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About the 1 oz Southern Cross Silver Coin
ABC Refinery's Australian-Made Silver Bullion Coin
The 1 oz Southern Cross is a silver bullion coin launched in June 2025 by ABC Mint, a division of Pallion, the group that also encompasses ABC Refinery (Australia's largest and only LBMA-accredited gold refinery). The collection was conceptualised by Ross MacDiarmid AO, former CEO of the Royal Australian Mint, and illustrated by coin artist Tony Dean. It is struck as Niue legal tender with King Charles III on the obverse and carries an NZD face value.
The Southern Cross stands out from most silver bullion coins in two ways. First, the silver purity is .9999 fine (four nines), matching the standard set by the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf and exceeding the .999 (three nines) used by the majority of silver coins including the Silver Britannia, Austrian Philharmonic, and American Silver Eagle. Second, it is manufactured from Australian-mined precious metals refined domestically by ABC Refinery, offering a complete Australian provenance chain from mine to finished coin.
The collection is an open, unlimited edition designed as accessible bullion rather than a limited collectible. Pricing tracks the silver spot price plus a modest premium, positioning it against Perth Mint's established silver coins rather than the limited-edition programmes that carry collector premiums. The high-relief BU finish on the silver version adds visual depth without the price premium of a proof strike.
The reverse design features a kangaroo and emu in silhouette against the outback landscape, both gazing upward toward the five stars of the Southern Cross constellation (Crux). The kangaroo and emu are the two animals on Australia's coat of arms, commonly noted for being unable to walk backwards, symbolising forward progress. The Southern Cross constellation appears on the flags of Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa, giving the design resonance across the Southern Hemisphere.
Southern Cross Technical Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1 troy oz (31.1035 g) |
| Purity | .9999 fine silver |
| Diameter | ~39 mm |
| Thickness | ~3 mm |
| Face value | NZD (Niue legal tender) |
| Finish | High relief Brilliant Uncirculated |
| Mintage | Unlimited (open edition) |
| Manufacturer | ABC Mint (Pallion group) |
| Refinery | ABC Refinery (LBMA-accredited) |
The collection also includes gold coins at .9999 fine in sizes from 1/10 oz to 2 oz (and potentially 10 oz), plus 1 kg and 10 oz silver versions. The gold coins carry face values from NZD $2 (1/10 oz) to NZD $200 (2 oz).
The issuing arrangement uses Niue, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand that uses the NZD as its currency. This is a well-established model for private mints seeking legal tender status for their products. ABC Mint is distinct from ABC Refinery within the Pallion group: the mint handles coin production while the refinery handles bar and raw metal products.
Ross MacDiarmid AO received the Order of Australia for services to the numismatic industry. His involvement brings sovereign-mint expertise to the private mint context, and the LBMA accreditation of the refinery provides an institutional credibility layer that most private mint products lack.
Southern Cross Tax Treatment by Country
The Southern Cross is a .9999 fine silver coin with Niue legal tender status. Its higher-than-standard silver purity is relevant in jurisdictions where the GST/VAT exemption threshold sits at 99.9%.
Australia
The primary market. Investment-grade silver coins from recognised entities at 99.9% purity or higher are GST-exempt. ABC Bullion confirms most of their bullion coins qualify for GST exemption. Capital gains on bullion are subject to CGT, with a 50% discount for holdings over 12 months. There is no CGT exemption for any bullion coins in Australia, unlike the UK's legal tender coin exemption.
New Zealand
Fine silver bullion at 99.9% purity or higher is GST-exempt (15% GST otherwise). The Southern Cross at .9999 purity comfortably exceeds this threshold. As Niue legal tender denominated in NZD, the coin has a natural connection to the New Zealand market. New Zealand has no formal capital gains tax, though gains may be taxable as income if the IRD determines bullion was acquired for the purpose of resale.
United Kingdom
Silver bullion carries 20% VAT in the UK regardless of purity or legal tender status. The Southern Cross is not UK legal tender and therefore not CGT-exempt. UK buyers prioritising tax efficiency on silver should consider the 1 oz Silver Britannia, which carries CGT exemption despite the same 20% VAT at purchase.
United States
No federal sales tax. Approximately 35 states exempt bullion from state sales tax. The .9999 purity exceeds the IRS 99.9% threshold for Precious Metals IRA eligibility under Section 408(m). Custodian acceptance varies for newer coin programmes.
Canada
GST/HST-exempt at 99.9% purity or higher. The .9999 purity qualifies.
Singapore
Investment Precious Metals (IPM) GST exemption applies to qualifying silver at 99.9% purity in coin form from approved sources. The .9999 purity meets the threshold. Hong Kong has no sales tax on bullion.
Southern Cross vs Perth Mint and Canadian Silver Bullion
The most direct competitor is the 1 oz Australian Silver Kangaroo from the Perth Mint. Both are Australian-produced, .9999 fine silver, government-authorised legal tender coins targeted at the bullion market. The Perth Mint has substantially greater global brand recognition and dealer network depth. The Kangaroo's annual design changes and long-running history give it an established secondary market that the Southern Cross, launched in 2025, does not yet have. Perth Mint also produces the Silver Kookaburra and Silver Koala, both at .9999 purity with annual design changes.
The Southern Cross differentiates on provenance: ABC Refinery is Australia's only LBMA-accredited refinery, and the coin uses domestically mined and refined metal. For buyers who value an entirely Australian supply chain (mine, refinery, mint), the Southern Cross offers something the Perth Mint cannot directly claim in the same way, although Perth Mint also refines Australian gold.
Internationally, the benchmark for .9999 silver coins is the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf. The Maple Leaf has decades of market history, global recognition, Bullion DNA micro-engraved security, and the tightest bid-ask spreads of any four-nines silver coin. The Southern Cross will need years of market presence to approach that level of liquidity. For buyers focused on minimum premiums and maximum resale certainty, the Maple Leaf remains the standard.
The high-relief finish on the Southern Cross silver is a distinguishing feature. Standard BU coins are flat-struck for high-speed production. High relief adds depth and visual interest without the mirror-finished dies and limited mintage of a proof coin. Among open-edition bullion coins, this is unusual and may appeal to buyers who display their coins or value the aesthetic dimension alongside the metal content.
1 oz Southern Cross Silver Coin: frequently asked questions
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The cheapest 1oz Southern Cross silver coin across our comparison is A$104.50 from ABC Bullion, currently at about 12.2% over the A$93.96 silver spot price. Each coin holds one troy ounce of .9999 fine silver, so the metal value moves in step with the silver spot price.
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The Southern Cross is a bullion coin collection launched in 2025 by ABC Mint, part of the Pallion group, which also includes ABC Refinery. The coins are struck as Niue legal tender using Australian-mined silver refined at ABC Refinery, the only LBMA-accredited refinery in Australia. The design by coin artist Tony Dean features a kangaroo and emu gazing at the Southern Cross constellation.
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The 1oz Southern Cross silver coin weighs 1 oz (31.1035 grams) and is 999 fine silver. That four-nines purity is above the standard .999 used by many silver bullion coins, matching the benchmark set by the Canadian Maple Leaf for silver purity.
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Store silver coins in airtight capsules or sealed holders to limit exposure to air and humidity, which cause tarnishing. Keep them away from heat, direct light, and anything acidic, including bare hands. Handling coins by the edge rather than the face prevents oils from marking the surface. A dry, temperature-stable environment such as a quality safe or safety deposit box is ideal for longer-term storage.